Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Hartt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

John , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I started being a “real artist” after I turned 50. I could have started in my twenties. Recently, I was looking through some old sketchbooks (20+ years) and realized, I had the chops to be an artist back then. Why didn’t I? I was pretty immature and was prone to do irresponsible things fairly regularly, but the main reason I waited so long was that I lacked the courage and confidence needed to create the life of an artist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

John Hartt’s (Jortt) true art journey began about a year before COVID when he was laid off from his corporate job after 20+ years as a graphic designer. Prior to losing his job, he’d been creating art in earnest, involving himself in art coops, , participating in group art shows and coordinating many solo art shows. Losing his job was the wake-up call he needed. That’s when he told himself “If I don’t commit myself to this Art Thing now, I’ll regret it on my deathbed.”

I want my art to make people smile.
That’s Jortt’s goal with every painting. If you haven’t yet experienced his offbeat art it’s a style that could be described as surrealism, but kind of sillier. Hartt has been gracing the art spaces of Northern Virginia area professionally with his unique, off-beat style for several years now.

Go Big – Or Go Home
Jortt’s paintings have been growing, literally. He started transitioning from 8” x 10” paintings to larger canvases and realized how much he loves painting big stuff. He’s since been painting murals in the mid Atlantic region, and in the past two years, he’s begun taking it to the streets. Playground art now comprises the bulk of this talented artist’s work. Art for playgrounds might involve a stylized hopscotch board made to look like the planets in the solar system or a segmented alphabet worm. There could be a color wheel with funny faces or a huge number board with a chutes-and-ladders look to it. And there are some things that are just pure whimsy.

His current project Something Wonderful, Jortt’s going really big. He’s creating a band of wonderful and out of this world creatures parading to a strange and exciting new destination. He’ll create these eight-foot creatures including aliens, tiki men, bigfoot, and robots, all unique characters with different personalities and different stories, celebrating the unique and diverse nature of our community.. This outdoor exhibition will be installed at the Harris Pavilion in the business district of Manassas, VA from June 2023 – August 2023.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

“Do something wonderful today.” That’s kinda my moniker. I have it on all my printed and digital material, it’s plastered on the back of my work van. I try to live it every day, When I’m in front of my easel, a wall, or my sketchbook and I’m creating something it’s pretty easy to paint something that’s “just okay”. I have to push myself and continually remind myself to go that extra mile to make whatever I’m making something unique, memorable and wonderful. I try and do that in all parts of the business, not just the creating part of work , but in branding, bookkeeping and sales.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The best part of being an artist is being “that guy”. That guy who’s creating these giant paintings that people are noticing, that guy who’s instrumental in building a vibrant creative culture where there was none before, that guy who’s inspiring others to step out of their comfort zone and focus on their creative thing. It’s an ego thing that I thrive on.

Contact Info:

• Website: jortt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.rtt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jortt.Art

Image Credits
All images: John Hartt